I've looked through the relevant threads in this forum, which all advise me to open the font dialogue box, choose the desired font and size and click the "default" button. When the message tells me this will affect all documents in the normal template and asks if this is OK, I answer Yes.
I've tried this repeatedly with the same result. The actual font is saved, but the font size is not.
I don't think the problem has to do with add-ins. I just have the MS Office validation add-in and the MS Live add-in 1.5.
Any help would be appreciated. If it makes any difference I want the default as 14-pt. Garamond.

Try the solutions having to do with Add-Ins anyway. The likelihood of it being anything else is minimal.
Add-Ins in Microsoft Word

I've removed the two add-ins, which I found I don't need, also microsoft.NET framework 4.5.1, which I don't need either. Then I opened Word from the RUN prompt (winword.exe /a), set the defaults I want, but the problem persists.
I guess I'll just stay with setting the font size manually after I open the program -- it's just a minor hassle.
Thanks anyway!

The default font is the font associated with the normal paragraph style in the normal template (document templates will have their own defaults). If you create documents from appropriate templates the default font is somewhat irrelevant, but if the font setting is reluctant to stick, open the normal template for editing in Word - Offioce Button > Open > Select Normal.dotm. If you have not changed the default location enter or copy
%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates
to the address window of the Windows Explorer file window and you will be taken to the folder that contains the default template. Note that this folder is normally hidden.
See which style is highlighted in the quick styles list. That is your default style:


Right click the highlighted style in the quick styles box and select 'Modify'. Make whatever changes you require.

Type some text in the document area. Make sure the style you have just modified is applied to it by clicking the highlighted style. Delete the text and save and close the template.

Create a new document. Type some text. Is the font what you set?

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

Thank you, Graham. That worked.